Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-09-18

uOlNIQR CnuOOe tOfreuQet QeISelI 6LLI6C-
tive in her simple toilette-a white dress
that clung about her (but all her dresses
had way Of ciinging), and sleeves that
fell back from her snowy and taper arms,
and as she went along she gathered 8 few
of the flowers which she knew Lonsdale
admired, and smiled as she thought how
| pleased he would be with even such q
trifing gift from her hand, and of the
loving words with which he would meet
and greet her.
How well she loved him, and how her
heart yearned for him; and like every
other girl under the same pleasant cir
cumstances, she felt certain that heaven
had designed and specially made them
for each other.
But when she reached the place Of
meeting he was not there.
It was beautiful spot, with the river
J flowing on one side, and shady vistas
trees on the other. She waited and
and watched with growing anxiety and
surprise, yet he came not.
Could either OF them have mistaken the
time, the place or the way thereto?
Could she have passed him? Impossible!
10th to return, to leave the loved spot
!
waited and watched, her fond heart beat
ing anxiously, for longer period than
she knew, till she looked at her watch,
and was sstonished to find that more than
an hour and half had fed, and then she
WAS turning slowly, sadly and lingeringly
away, when she heard sounds-voIces-
sounds that seemed to turn her to stone.
The blush of health and anticipation
left her face; her lips grew white and a
kind of moan escaped them. Why?
She saw Montague Lonsdale in boating
costume, with neck and arms bare, his
face bent over that of tall and handsome
girl. Could she doubt for q moment who
that girl was? Hilda Tremayne-that
notorious hirt and coquette, who had
spoken of him by his Christian name, and
boosted to her of their intimacy in India
-Hllda, with her bright golden-brown
hair, her long lashes and sleepy yet allur
ing hazel eyes, her full red lips, her
rounded cheeks, graceful and voluptuous
form.
He was bending over her, his hands, to
all appearances, caressingly among her
hair, while the boat in which they were
seated drifted swiftly with the downward
tide and current, till it was borne out OF
sight by bend or reach of the river.
This was dreadful, crushing reveIa-
8 ton to Melanie.
"Does he profess to love ne, and yet
meet her? He has duped me-betrayed
me"' muttered Melante. "Oh, can it be,
as Aunt Chillington says, that sll men
2 soldiers, especially-are alike?"
Ali the terrible reputation OF Hilda
Tremayne for coquetry, rushed upon hel
1 memory. SO great was the shock that
8 for time, all power Of thought, of SEN
sstion and volition, seemed to leave her
e and she stood as If frozen to stone, and
0 angry convictions rushed upon her, will
S pain that amounted to sgony and morti
j tlcation.
d Her slender hands were clasped il
front of her, the I IT'S interlsced, the
white palms turn outwards in tina
} mannerIwhich certainly tells Of the over
tension Of the mind within, while he
e very features became hard and distorted
q by the weight of her thoughts as she ben
t her steps slowly homeward.
There, ere long, her detection, ever
. her tears and abstraction, were detected
:, and fiercely derided by Uncle Grimshaw
" who shrewdly suspected the cause.-The
l. Lonsdsle had resented the attentions o
y the baronet, even as host. Confound hi
\ military impudence to do SO!
u When taxed as to all this, Melanie coulc
y only weep in silence, which her uncl
= took for assent.
4 "Well," said he, with q malevolent ant
triumphant grin, "when you now Sc
4 what horrld temper and jealous spiri
this military spark of yours has, and tn
y foul duplicity of which he is capable, per
haps you will come to your senses, be in
o cIined to ponder over m good advice
q and think better Of the splendid futur
y now opening for you at Ravensbourn
=, Hell-eh?"
II "Sir Brisco might be my grandfather
# | am GIRL" said Melaine, with shive
II OF annoyance.
e "And like too many girls, don't knoy
II your own mind. what is for your good
Twenty thous annum, ye Gods
n does not ofte 9fusal-rather NOR
lie than your bes knglo-Indian fellow
E. can Offer" he 81 nued, bitterly an
le coarsely. g" g" have been mad, l thin
lie for your ON ~ests, and most cruel {
If your brothe g.. lyway, just now, be 8
st susve as you go, Sir BrIsco-keep hir
,e in good tempe4.''
'. "Till Montague is gone, he means.
- thought Melsnie, with an emotion c
scorn.
Il off fail to do so?" she asked, aloud
= "Fsil! Then you may find, as be vii
~ do, that there are plenty Of girls ia
S. prettier than you, who will gladly CIV
l. themselves in marriage fer 100000
l. year. | am sure he will make very in
y dulgent and good natured husband
t, moreover, he mayn't live very long-nc
lg more than ten years now, probably
ct Think of Ravensbcurne Hsll, q house i
Or Mayfair, a box at the opera, carriages
N horses, diamonds, and pin money to an
oy amount, and compare all these with th
old story of love in cottage, or wors
s. still, s wretched bungalow IN 8 scorchin
r, Indian cantonment! Itneed not come I
v sn engagement yet, only don't snub s.
lg Brisco, say"
ep "Still the selfish line OF idess!" though
n poor Melaine.
= "But must Decline" she began.
"i you do, we msy thea see what "
be shall see-Dick beginning life as shol
of boy and Reginald ending it in hospital,
oy Interrupted Mr.. Grimshaw, and darling
m curious glance ST the latter, he turned o
r. his heel and withdrew, leaving the girl
y, prey to utter misery.
s. Dick misconstrued the cause of he
a. grief; though the latter got him Of SON
lie Of his tasks, German especially, whic
sp he detested.
e "Uncie Grimshaw," said he, resentin
in her tears, $50 you have been 81 some {
SIS your old games?"
Id "What old gsmes?"